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forum thread Posted by FreebiesRGreat • Jun 3, 2008
forum thread Posted by FreebiesRGreat • Jun 3, 2008

Contests & Sweepstakes Tips, Advice, and Questions

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The intent of this thread is for users, both new and not-so-new, to ask questions, and help with tips/advice. This is not by any means the "gospel". Please feel free to add your words of wisdom, and if you have questions, just ask! If you have a tip that will make sweeping easier for folks, please feel free to share. This is a community effort. We all will benefit in some way.


The Basic Advice/Tips for the new-to-sweeping folks.
Enter for the items you want/need. If you have no interest in trips, avoid the sweeps where the only prize is a trip. If you know you can't afford the tax on a new vehicle, avoid entering for those.

Set up folders in your bookmark/favorites. Create a separate one for each month, and file any sweeps you are interested in into the folder corresponding with when it ends. Then, if you have a day where you're pressed for time, enter at least the ones ending that day.

Play the instant win games.

Follow the rules! If a sweep is restricted to only females, a certain age group, certain states, etc, make sure you fit the criteria! If you don't, move on to another sweep that you do qualify for. Do not create a bunch of email addresses so you can enter something more than once, or so you can play an Instant win game more. The Sponsors can tell, and will DQ you. You're better off playing by the rules than cheating and getting disqualified and having NO entries.

Don't immediately dismiss essay required sweeps (or recipes, photos, etc)....well, unless you know you don't want to write something. A lot of people pass on them, so you might have a better shot at winning something.

Don't expect this to be lucrative enough to become a job. Yes, a lot of us win, and often, but not nearly enough to quit a job!

Expect things to go slow at first. It takes a while for the wins to roll in. But once they do...look out!

Expect to occasionally hit a dry spell. It happens to ALL of us.

DEFINITELY USE YOUR REAL INFO! If you use a fake phone number, and a sponsor is calling to notify people of wins, you'll never know what you missed out on. I, and many others, have been doing this for a long time, and we have no problems with sales calls. Also, use your real name. If your name is Robert or Catherine, using Bob or Cathy is ok, as they are known acceptable shorter versions of that name. if your name is Matilda, and you go by Fluffy, don't use Fluffy. Looking at your ID to get an affy notarized, they may reject it because the names don't match. The sponsor may also say "Fluffy won, not Matilda". So stick with using your real name, or something close to it.

Most of all, HAVE FUN! And don't be afraid to ask questions. We were all new to this at one time. Any one of us would be happy to answer questions.


For easy form filling, check out Roboform [roboform.com]. Google Tool bar and the autofill feature on IE also work well.

For Mac users, the best form filler is 1Password: http://agilewebsolutions.com/products/1Password (thanks javaFlower!)

FireFox Form Filler browser extensions: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/...ll&cat=all

To set up the autofill feature in IE: Click on Tools, then internet options, then choose 'content'. When that pops up, click on "Autocomplete", and make sure to check the boxes for forms and passwords on forms. This is not a good idea if you are on a shared/public computer!

February 17, 2009, 3:10 am: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.

July 12, 2010, 3:23 pm: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
The intent of this thread is for users, both new and not-so-new, to ask questions, and help with tips/advice. This is not by any means the "gospel". Please feel free to add your words of wisdom, and if you have questions, just ask! If you have a tip that will make sweeping easier for folks, please feel free to share. This is a community effort. We all will benefit in some way.


The Basic Advice/Tips for the new-to-sweeping folks.
Enter for the items you want/need. If you have no interest in trips, avoid the sweeps where the only prize is a trip. If you know you can't afford the tax on a new vehicle, avoid entering for those.

Set up folders in your bookmark/favorites. Create a separate one for each month, and file any sweeps you are interested in into the folder corresponding with when it ends. Then, if you have a day where you're pressed for time, enter at least the ones ending that day.

Play the instant win games.

Follow the rules! If a sweep is restricted to only females, a certain age group, certain states, etc, make sure you fit the criteria! If you don't, move on to another sweep that you do qualify for. Do not create a bunch of email addresses so you can enter something more than once, or so you can play an Instant win game more. The Sponsors can tell, and will DQ you. You're better off playing by the rules than cheating and getting disqualified and having NO entries.

Don't immediately dismiss essay required sweeps (or recipes, photos, etc)....well, unless you know you don't want to write something. A lot of people pass on them, so you might have a better shot at winning something.

Don't expect this to be lucrative enough to become a job. Yes, a lot of us win, and often, but not nearly enough to quit a job!

Expect things to go slow at first. It takes a while for the wins to roll in. But once they do...look out!

Expect to occasionally hit a dry spell. It happens to ALL of us.

DEFINITELY USE YOUR REAL INFO! If you use a fake phone number, and a sponsor is calling to notify people of wins, you'll never know what you missed out on. I, and many others, have been doing this for a long time, and we have no problems with sales calls. Also, use your real name. If your name is Robert or Catherine, using Bob or Cathy is ok, as they are known acceptable shorter versions of that name. if your name is Matilda, and you go by Fluffy, don't use Fluffy. Looking at your ID to get an affy notarized, they may reject it because the names don't match. The sponsor may also say "Fluffy won, not Matilda". So stick with using your real name, or something close to it.

Most of all, HAVE FUN! And don't be afraid to ask questions. We were all new to this at one time. Any one of us would be happy to answer questions.


For easy form filling, check out Roboform [roboform.com]. Google Tool bar and the autofill feature on IE also work well.

For Mac users, the best form filler is 1Password: http://agilewebsolutions.com/products/1Password (thanks javaFlower!)

FireFox Form Filler browser extensions: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/...ll&cat=all

To set up the autofill feature in IE: Click on Tools, then internet options, then choose 'content'. When that pops up, click on "Autocomplete", and make sure to check the boxes for forms and passwords on forms. This is not a good idea if you are on a shared/public computer!

February 17, 2009, 3:10 am: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.

July 12, 2010, 3:23 pm: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.

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9,749 Comments

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Nov 1, 2010
69 Posts
Joined Sep 2010
Nov 1, 2010
Gababanoodhes
Nov 1, 2010
69 Posts
Got my Metal Gear Solid PSP pack in the mail the other day from the Subway contest. Thanks for all the posting, and congrats to all the recent winners.
Nov 2, 2010
50 Posts
Joined Aug 2007
Nov 2, 2010
witchmd
Nov 2, 2010
50 Posts
In the upper right there is a search feature. When the thread has too many posted, it gets retired. You want to see the latest post (the one that is not retired). The thread will start with a post, then the wiki, and then everyone's response.

As for what you are doing wrong...you are on your own about that. And know that you are going to get flamed.
Nov 3, 2010
1,512 Posts
Joined Apr 2008
Nov 3, 2010
missk66
Nov 3, 2010
1,512 Posts
I have been entering the daily sweeps for about 5 months now. I just about use windows auto fill in my sleep too. Am I wasting my time or is it too early to expect to have a win???? TIA

Note: Guess I just really need a boost from some SD'rs
Last edited by missk66 November 3, 2010 at 08:00 AM.
Nov 3, 2010
2,176 Posts
Joined Aug 2009
Nov 3, 2010
Tippster
Nov 3, 2010
2,176 Posts
Quote from missk66 :
I have been entering the daily sweeps for about 5 months now. I just about use windows auto fill in my sleep too. Am I wasting my time or is it too early to expect to have a win???? TIA

Note: Guess I just really need a boost from some SD'rs
I have entered dailies for about a year now and I have won very little. But to be honest with you I do not enter many of them so that is probably the reason why.

I have much better luck with instant and one entry contests.
Nov 3, 2010
1,103 Posts
Joined May 2008
Nov 3, 2010
conehead433
Nov 3, 2010
1,103 Posts
Quote from missk66 :
I have been entering the daily sweeps for about 5 months now. I just about use windows auto fill in my sleep too. Am I wasting my time or is it too early to expect to have a win???? TIA

Note: Guess I just really need a boost from some SD'rs
First off you have to consider how many other people are entering the same daily sweeps, so your chances of winning any of them is relatively small. Then there are the number of prizes awarded for a particular sweepstakes. You can increase your chances of winning something significantly by entering sweepstakes that have numerous prizes. Also your chances are increased by entering regional or local sweeps with fewer entrants. I've won a couple of Publix gift cards and a Fox Sports trip to Vegas that was limited to a few states. Even though you may be discouraged now, at some point you'll receive some surprise win or receive an affy for a larger prize, and then you won't think that you were just wasting your time.
I spend a couple of hours every day entering sweepstakes and mix in some IWGs to keep me interested. When you win something, anything you feel better about the time you've invested. I haven't won any significant prize recently, but I've won a couple of bags of Hall's cough drops and some toaster strudels. Just keep entering, and often. Good luck to you.
Nov 3, 2010
1,238 Posts
Joined Aug 2005
Nov 3, 2010
saintjo
Nov 3, 2010
1,238 Posts
in regards to wasting your time with sweeps, it all depends on your goal.

i have been playing sweeps pretty consistantly a for a few years. i think the biggest thing i have won was a ps3 and hummer ride to the release party of call of duty modern warefare 2. and all of my other wins were way less than $100. i have personally been on a 3 month drought without winning anything besides a bag of cough drops from the Halls promo.

but its more a hobby that i do for fun more than it is about winning the most prizes. i give away most of the prizes to friends and family anyway.

so it just depends on your point of view.
Nov 4, 2010
285 Posts
Joined Dec 2006
Nov 4, 2010
WMnKM
Nov 4, 2010
285 Posts
Quote from missk66 :
I have been entering the daily sweeps for about 5 months now. I just about use windows auto fill in my sleep too. Am I wasting my time or is it too early to expect to have a win???? TIA

Note: Guess I just really need a boost from some SD'rs

Monday I was feeling the same as you (I'm into my 5th month)...ready to post on here to ask for a boost! 1 hour later, I get an email! Can't tell until Friday (affy and all that)...so don't give up hope!!! It will happen! I also have made this my full-time job - I spend
about 8 hours a day (on and off - all day and into the night - around 2 kids schedules, etc).
This also includes twitter parties. I think I figured it out one day, that I'm entering about 250-350 a day (depending on how many single entries there are) and how many of the others I get through.

I would suggest getting roboform - it really helped me enter quicker and more accurately.
Also someone posting on here that you don't really have to do the instant wins - that
helps to save some time, too!

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Nov 4, 2010
1,512 Posts
Joined Apr 2008
Nov 4, 2010
missk66
Nov 4, 2010
1,512 Posts
thanks to everyone for the boost and words of wisdom!!!! Good luck back @ ya all
Nov 4, 2010
116 Posts
Joined Jul 2009
Nov 4, 2010
bsismee
Nov 4, 2010
116 Posts
So I have been looking at all these threads often but am so lost as to how to keep track of which ones I entered and one to enter daily and ect. Can anyone tell me is there a way to mark that you entered the sweeps via slickdeals or do you keep track of your sweeps entries another way? I want to start entering but need to know how I should keep track of them. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! TIA!!!
Nov 4, 2010
6,936 Posts
Joined Aug 2007
Nov 4, 2010
Coyotezeye
Nov 4, 2010
6,936 Posts
I would start by reading the thread called tips, suggestions & questions.
Nov 4, 2010
2 Posts
Joined Apr 2010
Nov 4, 2010
estein888
Nov 4, 2010
2 Posts
Quote from bsismee :
So I have been looking at all these threads often but am so lost as to how to keep track of which ones I entered and one to enter daily and ect. Can anyone tell me is there a way to mark that you entered the sweeps via slickdeals or do you keep track of your sweeps entries another way? I want to start entering but need to know how I should keep track of them. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! TIA!!!
Try Diigo.com. You can notate pages and keep a library of those notes.
Nov 4, 2010
116 Posts
Joined Jul 2009
Nov 4, 2010
bsismee
Nov 4, 2010
116 Posts
Quote from estein888 :
Try Diigo.com. You can notate pages and keep a library of those notes.
awesome!!! Thanks!
Nov 5, 2010
1,397 Posts
Joined Sep 2010
Nov 5, 2010
mj025
Nov 5, 2010
1,397 Posts
Never mind, I won again and this time got the form...

Thanks,

-MJ
Last edited by mj025 November 5, 2010 at 03:15 AM.
Nov 6, 2010
3 Posts
Joined Nov 2010
Nov 6, 2010
viliana
Nov 6, 2010
3 Posts
How do you guys organize your entries? How do you avoid being disqualified for entering more than allowed?

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Nov 6, 2010
1,397 Posts
Joined Sep 2010
Nov 6, 2010
mj025
Nov 6, 2010
1,397 Posts
Quote from viliana :
How do you guys organize your entries? How do you avoid being disqualified for entering more than allowed?
You should read thru this whole thread. A lot of good information, I put my system in here, http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=1026521&p=33148501#post33148501

If it helps you, great! If not, I hope you find some answers. I spent about a week before I realized I needed to set that up for the very reasons you are asking. It works for me. Good luck.

-MJ

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